Mail-box.



E. ANDERSON.

MAIL BOX.

APPLIGATIQN FILED MAY 3,1913

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/Nl/ENTOR En der s un.

E Uler State of Alabama,. have .invented certain' UNITED STATES rAirENfi` onirica.

. ELBERT ANDERSON, or ANnALUsIA, ALABAMA.

tintin-Box. l

T0 all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it-'known that I, ELBERTANDERSON, a citizen .of the United v'. S tates, residing. at Andalusia, in the county of Covington. and

new and useful Improvements in Mail- Boxes, of which the followingisa specifi.-

cation, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to mail boxes; and

has for its Object the production oa simple I and efiicient means whereby the mail box may be automatically opened as theA mail carrier passes the boxl so as to facilitate the removal of mail articles Orthe delivery of such articles to the box.

A .further object of thisginvention .the

production of afsimple and eliicient box pr'o. vided with a false bottom whereby the articles of mail contained within the box may be elevated to lthe top thereof so that the mail carrier or collector may easily obtain access to the interior of the box so as to remove articles therefrom,

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an end view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a central transverse section through the center of the mail delivering box. Fig.

3 is a central longitudinal section of thev box. Fig. 4 is a side, elevation partly in section of the trip mechanism for the box. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the false bottom used in connection with the present invention. Fig. 6 is a transverse section through one of the guiding cleats coperating with the false bottom.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that 1 designates the supporting standard which is anchored in the ground in the usual manner common to a supporting post, and this supporting standard 1 carries a mail box 2 at its upper end. This mail box 2 comprises an elongated body having a hinged top 3 which top is secured to the body by means of the hinge 4. A filler block 5 is positioned within the top 3 and this filler block is adapted to be engaged by the lifting arm 6 which arm is secured to the box by means of the roller7 which roller Specication et laetc'ifs`Iv Alateiit. hppiieatio'n med may s, 1913, @Serial No. 765,306.

Patentednug. 4., i914..

travels lin the slot 8 formed in the lifting 'arm 6.. The liftinarm 6 is --substantially-an S-shaped member aving an up'turned inner end:4 9 and an uptur'ned and outwardly extending end 10. The slot 8extends longitudinally'of the liftin arm'l 6j and as the same isswung' =it will'` e seen thatthe slot will allow-the arm 6 to -move inwardly of the box 2 so as to easily-raisev the top 3 thereof to enable themailcar-rier to obtain access to lthe interior of the box.

A slotll v is formed adjacent Vthe roller 7 so as t allow tliearm 6 to pass therethrough.

'Apair `of link members 1-2l are connected t0 the false bottom 13 and as the rear -end of the lifting arm 6 is pulled downwardly tothe.

the box will be raised to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. ',..he links 12 connect the top 3 and the false bottom 13 so as to cause the 'false bottom 13 to be raised 0r elevated as the cover 3 is swung outwardly. The false bottom 13 is provided upon its end and sides with dove-tailed notches 14 which fit over the dove-tailed guiding members 15 carried by the sides of the box. It will, therefore, be seen that these guiding members 15 will consti/tute an eliicient means whereby the false bottom will be held in its correct position so as to keep from binding as the same is elevated by means of the links 12.

A vertical sliding frame 16 is carried by the standard 1 and comprises a laterally extending foot 17 which foot is braced by means of a diagonally extending brace i8. The outer end of the foot 17 engages the link member 19 by having its end fitting in the aperture 20 formed in the center of the link. This link is pivotally connected at its respective ends to the sections 21 of the trip member and these sections 21 re substantially channel-shaped in cross section having flanges 22 to constitute a guide for the wheel of the vehicle ani prevent the position shown in dotted lines, the

lines in Figs. 1 and 2, and the mail carrier will be enabled to obtain easy access to the box without dismounting from the vehicle.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen thatl a very simple and eiicient device has been produced whereby the mail box wil normally be'held'in a closed position bu as the mail carrier passes thel same the box will be automatically opened by means of the trip mechanism so as to enable the carrier to deliver mail to the box or receive mail therefrom.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In a d evice of the class described,lthe combination with a supporting standard, of a trip mechanism, a box carried by said standard, a cover hinged to said box, a cover elevating armsecured to ysaid box and comprisin a substantially S-shaped member provi ed with a longitudinally extending slot, a roller supported upon said box and travelin in said box for facilitating the longitu inal movement of said arm relative to the sides of the box, operating means engaging said arm for raising said cover as the same is swung upon said box, a false bottom carried by said box, means connectin said false bottom and cover for causing said false bottom to be raised as said cover is swung.

2. A mail box comprising a body, a cover hinged to said body, a cover elevating arm secured to said box, said arm comprising a substantially S-shaped member provided witha longitudinally extending slot, a roller supported upon said box and traveling in said slot of said'S-shaped arm to facilitate the inward and upward movement of said arm, and means secured to said arm for moving said arm inwardly and upwardly.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

g ELBERT ANDERSON.

Witnesses J. S. W. CAW'rHoN, D. C. PADGEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. 0. 

